Corruption Of Mind

Brand India is "everywhere". Brand Bangalore, brand Delhi, brand Mumbai and would you believe it brand Kolkata.

Sensex is zooming. Team India ratings are improving. The national highways are sowing up the entire country. Air travel is no more an affordance issue. Mobile communication has pushed GDP by a point and a half. Bollywood is getting more mindspace. Indian fashion is recognised in the precints of Milan.

And all this amidst a bustling democracy. Thus Uncle Sam's latest rendition Mr. Bush is sitting up and taking note. So India is finally waking up. A perfect time for the feel good docus. Glowing tribal faces holding cellphones. A happy family in the backdrop.

But what about the silent killer. Corruption. Corruption to beat the competition. Corruption to move up. Corruption to undo the undone. A silent and malignant disease. The Corruption of the mind.

Corruption in politics. The root from where it all emanates.

The main opposition BJP cannot accept that it has lost out on the money making opportunity. It is two years since they lost. We know it is natural to sulk. But to sulk this long. But BJP was always a party with a difference. Look at their latest - they have decided to move for Sonia's disqualification. If BJP was a man he would have married Sonia by now.

Corruption in art. Sometimes spawned by politics again.

Look at the Bachchans. Abhilshek thanked Amar in his acceptance speech. And Amar Singh loves flaunting their invisible collar belt. All in the name of friendship. We have Salman rebuking the system every other day. We have Anu Malik singing paens to Dawood. Paheli was sent to the Oscars. A ceremony where they supposedly celebrate cinema. But Bollywood is not about cinema but about stars. They reach the top, become insecure and then try to hold on. They manipulate to rig the box office and even the awards. Our King Khan tops that list.

Corruption in Sport. Again the politicians hold sway.

Ganguly is out of the equation for good. The hand that kept him going is the same hand that moved him out. Kiran More, Greg Chappell, sportsman at one point of time are now more interested to play games. Anybody read Nisha Millet's (who is she?) interview in TOI? Anybody followed Shiva Kesavan's rebuff at the winter Olympic parade. If you really love sport it will make your heart sob.

Corruption in Society.

Jessica Lal was murdered in full view. Everybody's turning their gun on folks like Sayan Munshi. What would you have done. Our balls would have melted. Atleast he held our for long. But its not fashionable to talk about the real suppressors. After all being politicians and policemen you would expect them to corrupt. So one has work around and work inspite of that.

And the list can go on. Corruption in religion (Our dear Shankaracharya). Corruption in journalism (Read TOI and you know). Corruption even in social service (Amala case). Corruption in education (come down south and follow the private college saga).

Corruption almost everywhere. In business, in work, in jumping queue, in trying to beat someone to an auto, in getting good seats in the train. Its everywhere and it stinks. But like most stinks you tend to get used to it. But folks no stink is good for the souls.